For the past 50 years, the main goal of agriculture has been to increase production at any price, using high amounts of fertilizers and pesticides and intensive industrial methods. This has caused damage to the environment and widespread rural depopulation. This study shows that there is a viable alternative – a form of agriculture which conserves resources, maintains rural employment and minimizes the external costs, without loss of productivity. Using case studies from industrialized and developing countries, the author describes the new technical, institutional and policy options available.